On the first night of Hanukkah, the candles in the menorah glow softly in T’kaija Moore’s living room, as her family gathers together, beginning the first day of a holiday they’ve celebrated their entire lives. The smell of lamb cooking and the sound of familiar voices create a warm atmosphere that singles the start of the eight-day celebration. For Moore, Hanukkah is more than a holiday, it is a yearly reminder of her culture, her beliefs and the people she cares about.
Some may think of Hanukkah as a holiday centered around candles or gifts, but its meaning extends far beyond that. It commemorates a miracle in Jewish history, when oil that should have lasted only one day burned for eight. Jewish families honor this story and God through prayer, traditional meals and lighting the menorah each night. For Moore, the holiday is deeply connected to her upbringing.
“I’ve been celebrating Hanukkah since I was born,” Moore said.
Although she enjoys the holiday for many reasons, she admitted that receiving a gift each day is something she looks forward to.
“Personally, I really like it because of the gifts. I wake up expecting to open a new gift each day,” Moore said.
Still, she emphasized that her connections to the holiday goes beyond presents.
“It celebrates a day that’s significant to me [and] it’s in my religion too,” Moore said. “It’s fun when I get to gather around family [because]we all have the same likes and beliefs.”
Her family follows several traditions throughout the eight days. Lighting the candles each night is one of the most important parts of their celebration. The first and last day of Hanukkah holds a special significance for her family. On those days, they don’t buy or sell anything, since they consider them as holy days meant for worship and reflection.
But gifts and candles don’t take up the full celebration, food plays a meaningful role in their celebration too.
“The traditional food we have to have is lamb,” Moore said. “We have lamb for the first and last night, bitter herbs and unleavened bread.”
These meals bring the entire family together and help the holiday feel complete.
Family connection is a major theme in the way she experiences Hanukkah. For Moore, the holiday brings her closer to relatives she doesn’t see often.
“My favorite part is seeing family I haven’t seen in a long time,” Moore said. “And friends too. Congregating is a big one.”
Sharing the celebration with people who hold the same beliefs creates a sense of comfort and belonging for her.
One of her strongest Hanukkah memories happened when she was nine. That year, her family traveled to another state, which she thinks was Texas, to celebrate with extended family.
“Whenever I think of Hanukkah, that stands in my mind the most,” Moore said.
Even though Hanukkah lasts eight days, each night holds a familiar rhythm that her family looks forward to. The repetition isn’t boring to her, instead it makes the holiday feel steady and comforting, and the nights, aside from the first and last day, matter just as much.
Lighting the candles, gathering together and sharing the same traditions every evening connects her family, turning the eight days into something meaningful rather than just a long holiday.
Even after the candles burn out and the meals are finished, the holidays leave something lasting for Moore: a renewed sense of faith and family. The rituals she grew up with continue to anchor her, reminding her why these eight days matter. “We all get to worship something we believe in, and it draws us closer together,” Moore said
